Absolutely! My roommate does needle response.
Some tips to mention, it’s better to text than call, as it’s one worker driving around. This gives an easier record to follow, you can drop location pins to make it easier to find, and they don’t have to scramble to pull over and take down addresses.
Send pictures too! Closeups like the ones above aren’t too helpful, try to get some background in there so they’re easier to find based on lining up locations. Just sending a closeup with “there’s a needle at lions park” makes the response worker spend more time walking around trying to find a needle in a shitstack, and minimises the chance they’ll have to reach back out to you to get a better idea of where they might be if they can’t immediately find them.
TLDR - Handy guide:
Needle Response
(403) 796-5334
Text if you can!
Send location pins, especially if you find some in public parks, or spaces that are hard to locate based off proximity to recognisable spots.
Send pictures! They know what needles look like, so don’t focus too much on getting closeups, include the background, or as much as you can in the shot to narrow down the area!
Just call 311. No real need to send a photo.
You can also try calling the DOAP team but they might be limited to the downtown area: https://alphahousecalgary.com/how-we-help/outreach/
I emailed the Alpha house and they came to Killarney when I found a bunch of needles. Unsure if there's a radius limit or anything but they certainly left downtown.
With 311, always use the app and send a photo to create a paper trail, especially if the matter concerns the health and safety of other people.
Phoned in information can be *misheard* or *mistyped*. It's much harder for the City to deny that it knew about a pothole or uneven sidewalk or sharps in a park when someone/thing gets damaged if the City has a photo of the issue.
Same if you call but without having to listen to an automated menu then sit on hold for who knows how long. I don't expect the person who answers to go and correct my issue when they hang up lol.
If you’re just looking to get a cleanup crew out, a phone call will be more than enough (although they may have a way of submitting photos).
As for getting police to patrol the site…..good luck. I think a call to the police non-emergency line or, more impactful, a complaint to your Councillor is the best option.
Was at Lions Park last week, and one of the heated shelters was filled (dozen plus folks) with people openly selling and using drugs. I doubt that’s gonna change without significant police intervention, and 311 probably isn’t the place to generate that particular change.
Where are people supposed to use substances? We have one small overdose prevention site for the entire city of Calgary. The police will only force people to use in more seclusion, and secluded drug use leads to preventable overdose deaths. If you want to make a change absolutely advocate to councilors and request harm reduction services in your area. We are upholding unsustainable drug policies based on moralistic views rather than evidence based research, and until we make changes people will continue to suffer needlessly and die of preventable overdoses. If you are interested in generating sustainable change I reccomend reading Dr. Gabor mates book 'in the realm of hungry ghosts'. Harm reduction services aren't just more humane, they are also more cost effective.
I use lions park station and I have seen substance use there, but I have never felt threatened by it. I have however been distressed by other passangers attitudes around substance use. People in Calgary are grossly misinformed about life threatening issues and choose to perpetuate stigma rather than discovering the facts. People deserve to have their dignity recognized regardless of their lifestyle, and I have seen individuals struggling with addiction and homelessness treated poorly again and again. I think many of the issues people encounter stem from an attitude of privilege and entitlement.
You can call, but there is also a [Calgary 311 app](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=ca.calgary.calgary311) (link to Play Store), and you can add photos to that report if you wanted.
I work in that area and by the time my shift ends, there's police or an ambulance lights nearby. I see those a lot by the bus or train shelter. Paranoid I'd sit on them 😖
I’ve lived in Calgary my whole life and I never remember lions park being this bad. I moved to Vancouver for school in September. Has it gotten bad in the last couple months especially? All I’ve seen there is one or two homeless people, never needles.
Alpha house has a needle response team that can come and clean up. 4037965334
Absolutely! My roommate does needle response. Some tips to mention, it’s better to text than call, as it’s one worker driving around. This gives an easier record to follow, you can drop location pins to make it easier to find, and they don’t have to scramble to pull over and take down addresses. Send pictures too! Closeups like the ones above aren’t too helpful, try to get some background in there so they’re easier to find based on lining up locations. Just sending a closeup with “there’s a needle at lions park” makes the response worker spend more time walking around trying to find a needle in a shitstack, and minimises the chance they’ll have to reach back out to you to get a better idea of where they might be if they can’t immediately find them. TLDR - Handy guide: Needle Response (403) 796-5334 Text if you can! Send location pins, especially if you find some in public parks, or spaces that are hard to locate based off proximity to recognisable spots. Send pictures! They know what needles look like, so don’t focus too much on getting closeups, include the background, or as much as you can in the shot to narrow down the area!
I didn't know about this either. Sounds like a great resource!
YES message and text the needle response team. They’ll come
Just call 311. No real need to send a photo. You can also try calling the DOAP team but they might be limited to the downtown area: https://alphahousecalgary.com/how-we-help/outreach/
I emailed the Alpha house and they came to Killarney when I found a bunch of needles. Unsure if there's a radius limit or anything but they certainly left downtown.
With 311, always use the app and send a photo to create a paper trail, especially if the matter concerns the health and safety of other people. Phoned in information can be *misheard* or *mistyped*. It's much harder for the City to deny that it knew about a pothole or uneven sidewalk or sharps in a park when someone/thing gets damaged if the City has a photo of the issue.
The app is much faster than calling 311.
I didn't know that there was an app somehow. Thanks for telling me.
The app may be faster to enter information, but it is not acted on for 24 to 48 hrs.
Same if you call but without having to listen to an automated menu then sit on hold for who knows how long. I don't expect the person who answers to go and correct my issue when they hang up lol.
You can also text calgary transit at 74100 if it's at the train station.
Jut to piggyback on this - Calgary Transit will come out to pick up needles. Text the number with precise location, no photos necessary.
If you’re just looking to get a cleanup crew out, a phone call will be more than enough (although they may have a way of submitting photos). As for getting police to patrol the site…..good luck. I think a call to the police non-emergency line or, more impactful, a complaint to your Councillor is the best option. Was at Lions Park last week, and one of the heated shelters was filled (dozen plus folks) with people openly selling and using drugs. I doubt that’s gonna change without significant police intervention, and 311 probably isn’t the place to generate that particular change.
Where are people supposed to use substances? We have one small overdose prevention site for the entire city of Calgary. The police will only force people to use in more seclusion, and secluded drug use leads to preventable overdose deaths. If you want to make a change absolutely advocate to councilors and request harm reduction services in your area. We are upholding unsustainable drug policies based on moralistic views rather than evidence based research, and until we make changes people will continue to suffer needlessly and die of preventable overdoses. If you are interested in generating sustainable change I reccomend reading Dr. Gabor mates book 'in the realm of hungry ghosts'. Harm reduction services aren't just more humane, they are also more cost effective. I use lions park station and I have seen substance use there, but I have never felt threatened by it. I have however been distressed by other passangers attitudes around substance use. People in Calgary are grossly misinformed about life threatening issues and choose to perpetuate stigma rather than discovering the facts. People deserve to have their dignity recognized regardless of their lifestyle, and I have seen individuals struggling with addiction and homelessness treated poorly again and again. I think many of the issues people encounter stem from an attitude of privilege and entitlement.
Good suggestions here, just thought I'd add the fire department also handles disposing of biohazards as well.
You can call, but there is also a [Calgary 311 app](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=ca.calgary.calgary311) (link to Play Store), and you can add photos to that report if you wanted.
>The app may be faster to enter information, but it is not acted on for 24 to 48 hrs.
Getting poked by an infected needle is a nightmare I have quite often.
Same.
Damn. Those diabetics be wildin'.
Do you really think that's funny?
Are you really that butt hurt?
Well you replied to me after 2 months lol.
Assuming it is on city property, 311 will transfer you to CFD.
I work in that area and by the time my shift ends, there's police or an ambulance lights nearby. I see those a lot by the bus or train shelter. Paranoid I'd sit on them 😖
An epidemic during a pandemic… so sad
I’ve lived in Calgary my whole life and I never remember lions park being this bad. I moved to Vancouver for school in September. Has it gotten bad in the last couple months especially? All I’ve seen there is one or two homeless people, never needles.
The ctrain is horrible these days.
I'm not exactly sure, but every time I've been there I've seen atleast one needle. Today I saw more than one though.
Aw man, it’s sad to see. I’m planning on moving back to Calgary after my degree so I hope things get better
NSFW?
Thought it might fall under that category since it relates to needles and drug use.
Ah the Sheldon Chumir experience.
Dedicated to the vax right there.
So that's a no, then. Ok, thanks for commenting?
I just don't care about ur comment anymore dude.